Fibreboard hogshead



Aug. 25, 1964 E. s. KORDOWSKI FIBREBOARD HOGSHEAD 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed NOV. 9, 1961 Aug- 25, 1964 E. s. KoRDowsKl I 3,145,897

FIBREBOARD HoGsHEAD Filed Nov. 9, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I NVEN TOR.

United States Patent() FIBREBDARD HGSHEAD Edward S. Kortlowski, Chicago, lll., assignor to General Box Company, Des Plaines, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 9, 1961, Ser. No. 151,300 3 Claims. (Cl. 229-45) This invention relates in general to containers and more particularly to a new and improved cask or hogshead or the like. It deals specifically with a breboard hogshead particularly suited for prizing and shipping tobacco.

It is common practice in the tobacco industry to prize cured tobacco in large casks or hogsheads for shipment domestically or abroad. This prizing involves compacting a predetermined maximum amount of tobacco into a hogshead, for example, under pressure to compress the tobacco. When a predetermined amount of cured tobacco has been packed under pressure in a hogshead, a lid is secured over the open end of the hogshead whereupon it is ready for shipment.

Before tobacco is shipped abroad in this manner, however, it must be opened for inspection, presumably by the buyer, to insure that the contracted type and grade of tobacco is enclosed in each hogshead. This, of course, poses serious problems since any attempt to inspect the tobacco requires that the compressed plug of tobacco be bodily removed from the hogshead r that the hogshead be split open around it so that the plug can be broken apart.

The hogsheads presently utilized for the prizing and shipping of tobacco do not facilitate a ready inspection and simple repacking of these large plugs of tobacco in a manner which is more than remotely satisfactory. Wooden hogsheads, for example, must be irreparably broken into to be inspected before shipment abroad, and the resultant breaks present obvious areas for tobacco spoilage and the like to occur.

It is an object of this invention to provide a new and improved container.

It is another object to provide a new and improved ibreboard cask or hogshead or the like.

It is still another object to provide a breboard hogs- It is a further object to provide a {ibreboard hogshead kof the aforedescribed character which lends itself readily to the inspection of tobacco compressed within.

It is yet a further object to provide a breboard hogshead which can simply and quickly be reconstituted or reassembled into near perfect condition for shipment after the aforedescribed inspection.

It is another object to provide a breboard hogshead formed primarily of a prefabricated panel unit which is simple and inexpensive in construction.

It is still another object to provide a fbreboard hogshead which is easily assembled initially and readily reasembled after inspection of the tobacco it contains with a minimum of labor and expense.

The above and other objects are realized in accordance with the present invention by providing a new and improved breboard hogshead especially adapted for prizing and shipping tobacco. However, as will readily be understood, the hogshead embodying the features of this invention might find advantageous application in the shipment or storage and inspection of various other com- Ymodities and materials, and the pointed description of Cce ly cylindrical shape by adhesive means having a relatively high shear strength and a relatively low tensile strength. As a result, the overlapping free ends of the cylindrically formed panel unit will not readily separate in the general plane of their overlapping but will readily eel apart at the seam between them and separate generally perpendicular to each other. This facilitates the easy opening of the hogshead wall for inspection of the packed tobacco, for example, after it has been prized and sealed in the hogshead.

The longitudinally extending edges of the prefabricated ibreboard panel unit and consequently the edges defining the open ends of the hogshead are reinforced and provide anchors for the lids forming oppositely disposed end closures for the hogshead. External bracing maintains the configuration of the pressure-packed hogshead after prizing. This external bracing is readily removed before inspection of the tobacco when the aforementioned seam is to be peeled open and replaced after the inspection when the opposite ends of the panel unit are brought back to overlapping relationship in a unique and expeditious manner.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, taken with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE l is a perspective View of a fibreboard hogshead embodying the features of this invention, as the hogshead would appear immediately prior to shipment abroad, for example;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the prefabricated panel unit .which is assembled into the hogshead shown in FIG- URE l;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective View of a partially assembled empty hogshead embodying the features of this invention;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of an inverted and partially disassembled hogshead embodying the features of this invention in the position necessary to the inspection of tobacco or the like carried within its contines;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the reinverted hogshead shown in FIGURE 4 wherein the hogshead is being reassembled into the condition shown in FIGURE l for shipment abroad, for example; and

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6 6 of FIGURE 1.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIG- URE 1, a hogshead embodying the features of this invention is illustrated generally at lo. The hogshead 10 is comprised primarily of a unique ibreboard construction which is reinforced in the strategic areas surrounding its oppositely disposed ends. The construction facilitates obtaining ready access to the tobacco prized within the hogshead so as to afford inspection of the tobacco prior to shipment abroad, for example. After such access is obtained by inspection personnel, the construction facilitates rapid and easy re-assembly of the hogshead to once more place it in excellent condition for handling and shipment.

As also seen in FIGURE l, the hogshead comprises a generally cylindrical wall panel unit 11, a top closure 12,

vand a bottom closure 13 (hidden from view in FIGURE 1). An upper bracing strap 14 encircles the top of the hogshead 10 and a lower bracing strap 15 encircles the bottom of the hogshead. The straps 14 and 15 might be of any well known metal composition and are conventional in construction. Bracing wires 16 encircle the hogshead 10 at regularly spaced intervals between the bracing straps 14 and 15.

Referring now to FIGURE 2, the wall panel unit 11 is generally flat in prefabricated form before its assembly JJ into the hogshead 10. It is adapted, of course, to be bent into a generally cylindrical shape, and, in conjunction with both the top and bottom closures 12 and 13, and the braces 14-16, form the hogshead 10 embodying the features of this invention.

The wall panel unit 11 includes a main panel 20 which is generally rectangular in configuration and is formed of fibreboard. The breboard might be a single solid board, a laminated solid board, or it might be of a corrugated construction. An end closure flap 21 is forrned at one end of the main panel 20 unitarily therewith and is shown separated from the main panel by an imaginary line 22. When the panel 20 is bent into cylindrical shape to define the walls of the hogshead 10, the end closure flap 21 underlies the opposite end 23 of the main panel 20 and is adapted to be secured thereto by a strip of pressure-sensitive adhesive 24 initially applied on the undersurface of the ap 21 (as seen in FIGURE 2) in a conventional manner. In the alternative, a liquid adhesive of the contact type might be applied to both the flap 21 and a corresponding area of the end 23 of panel 20.

The adhesive 24 is of any known type which has a high shear strength and a relatively low tensile strength This facilitates peeling the opposite end 23 of the panel 20 away from its overlapping relationship with the end closure ap 21 but prevents the flap 21 and the opposite end 23 from pulling apart parallel to each other in what might broadly be referred to as the plane of their adhering surfaces.

Still referring to FIGURE 2, an upper reinforcing panel assembly 30 underlies the upper longitudinally extending edge of the main panel 20 and a lower reinforcing panel assembly 31 underlies the lower longitudinally extending edge of the panel 20. These panel assemblies 30 and 31 reinforce the hogshead in its assembled relationship so as to prevent damage to the hogshead or its contents if the hogshead should undergo rough handling, for example, during shipment.

The upper panel assembly 30 includes a pair of superimposed libreboard panels 30a and 30h (see FIGURE 6) and the lower panel assembly 31 includes an identical pair of superimposed breboard panels (not shown in detail). As is the case with the main panel 20, the panels 30a and 30b might be solid fbreboard or they might have a corrugated construction or the like.

Each of the panel assemblies 30 and 31 is secured to the main panel by stapling. A double row of staples 35 extend inwardly through each reinforcing panel assembly and clinch the corresponding panel assembly to the main panel 20. This relationship is illustrated in detail in FIGURE 6 (showing the upper panel assembly 30 only).

To position and hold the upper end closure 12 in place in the hogshead 10, a series of generally regularly spaced cleat members 37 are provided overlying the longitudinally extending upper edge of the panel 2t). An identical series of generally regularly spaced cleat members 38 overlies the lower longitudinally extending edge of the panel 20 and are adapted to position and hold the bottom closure 13 in place. The cleat members 37 and 38 are preferably formed of wood and are spaced at intervals precalculated to cause their adjacent ends to come into contact when the main panel 20 is bent into cylindrical shape to form the wall of the hogshead 10.

The cleat members 37 and 38 are held in their respective positions on the main panel 20 by stapling. A plurality of staples 39 extend through each of the cleat members 37 and 38, the main panel 20, and corresponding reinforcing panel assemblies 30 and 31. The staples 39 are then clinched down on corresponding panel assemblies 30 and 31 and hold the respective cleat members 37 and 38 tightly against the main panel 20.

At the oppositely disposed ends of the upper reinforcing panel assembly 30, pairs of pull-up holes 42 are cut through the panel assembly and the main panel 20. In

identical fashion in the opposite ends of the lower reinforcing panel assembly 31, pairs of pull-up holes 43 are cut through both the reinforcing panel assembly 31 and the main panel 20. These pull-up holes are adapted to facilitate re-assembly of the hogshead after it has been broken into for inspection of the tobacco carried within its confines.

Referring now to FIGURE 3, it will be seen that as the main panel 20 and consequently the reinforcing panel assemblies 30 and 31 are bent into generally cylindrical shape in the manner shown, the end closure flap 21 cornes into underlying relationship with the oppositely disposed end 23 of the main panel 20. At this time, the cleat members 37, because of their pre-established spacing, come into adjacent end-to-end contact to form a substantially continuous wooden cleat, seen generally at 45, around the inner edge of the top of the hogshead 10. In identical fashion, the cleat members 38 form a substantially continuous wooden cleat, seen generally at 46, around the inner edge of the lower end of the hogshead 10. In this relationship the opposite end 23 of the main panel 20 is glued over the end closure flap 21 through the medium of the pressure-sensitive adhesive 24 to establish and maintain the shape and size of the cylindrical wall when the hogshead 10 is empty.

Having formed the cylindrical wall of the hogshead 10, the bottom closure 13 is set into place in the hogshead. The bottom closure 13 comprises a generally circular wooden disc 50 (see FIGURE 4) having an annular wooden ring 51 secured to its outer surface by nailing, for example, adjacent the periphery of the disc. In the alternative, however, the ring 51 might be glued to the disc 50. The disc, of course, is of substantially the same diameter as the inside diameter of the cylindrical wall of the hogshead 10.

The annular wooden ring 51 is in turn inset from the outer edge of the wooden disc 50 by a distance equal to the thickness of the continuous wooden cleat 46 extending around the inner edge of the lower end of the hogshead 10. To put the bottom closure 13 in place, the cylindrical panel unit 11 is deformed into somewhat of an elliptical or egg shape to allow the wooden disc 50 to pass through it at the top of the hogshead 10. The disc 50 is then maneuvered into position wherein it lies against the continuous wooden cleat 46 forming a rim around the bottom edge of the hogshead. This puts the ring 51 substantially snugly against the inner surface of the rim formed by the cleat member 46.

After the bottom closure 13 has been set in place within the cylindrically formed panel unit 11, it is preferable that the lower bracing strap 15 be placed in encircling relationship about the lower reinforcing panel assembly 31. The oppositely disposed ends of the strap 15 are clinched together by conventional means, as at 55 (see FIGURE 1). At this point the strap 15 might be nailed through the lower reinforcing panel assembly 31, the main panel 20, and the cleat members 38, into the wooden ring 51 secured to the disc 50 of the bottom closure 13. However, it is preferably left un-nailed to facilitate one method of opening the hogshead for inspection of the tobacco.

At this time, the bracing wires 16 are preferably placed in encircling relationship about the cylindrically formed panel unit 11 of the hogshead 10. The opposite ends of corresponding bracing wires 16 are secured together about the hogshead 10 by twisting the ends together, for example. At this point, the hogshead 10 is ready to be lled with cured tobacco and prized to compress the tobacco in the hogshead. It should be understood, however, that the hogshead 10 might be prized without the bracing wires 16 in encircling relationship. Their function is to insure against the hogshead splitting open.

Standing with its open top facing upwardly, the hogshead 10 is filled with tobacco which is compressed therein by conventional ram means, for example, until a compressed plug of tobacco is actually formed within the hogshead. When a predetermined amount of tobacco has been compressed into the hogshead 10, the top closure 12 is set in place within the open upper end of the hogshead and secured underneath the continuous cleat 45 formed by the cleat members 37.

The top closure 12 is identical in configuration and construction to the bottom closure 13. It includes a wooden disc 60 having a wooden ring 61 glued to its outer surface immediately adjacent the periphery of the disc 60 and separated from the periphery by a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the continuous cleat 45. The disc 66 is forced inside the rim, formed by the continuous cleat 45, with any conventional prying tool, much in the same manner that an automobile tire is pried over a tire rim by a tire iron.

After the wooden disc 60 has been pried inside of the continuous cleat 45 established by the cleat members 37, it willbe seen in FIGURE 6 that the wooden ring 61 snugly engages the inner surface of the rim formed by the continuous cleat 45 and the disc 60 is forced outwardly against this continuous cleat 45 by the pressure of the compressed tobacco within the hogshead 10. In this relationship, the upper bracing strap 14 is placed around the reinforcing panel assembly 30 and the opposite ends of the strap are clinched together at 65 (see FIGURE l) so that the strap forms an encircling brace for the hogshead 10. Similar to the application of oppositely disposed lower strap 15, the upper bracing strap 14 is preferably not nailed in place at this time. This nailing operation is left until after the hogshead has been opened to facilitate the inspection of the tobacco and subsequently reassembled for overseas shipment, for example.

The hogshead of tobacco is ready at this time for shipment. At the sellers warehouse facilities, for example, it is conventional practice for the buyers agents to inspect the tobacco to insure that the proper type and grade of tobacco has been delivered, as has hereinbefore been pointed out.

The inspection of tobacco carried within the hogshead 10 embodying the features of this invention is an expeditious and significantly simple procedure. In this light it might be accomplished in one of several Ways. Following one procedure, rst the upper bracing strap 14 is cut and removed from the hogshead 10 (since the strap is not nailed at this time, this is a simple task). The hogshead 10 is then inverted such that the bottom closure 13 faces upwardly, as seen in FIGURE 4. At this time, in the case where bracing wires are utilized, the wires are severed or otherwise loosened. As will be seen, in this case, the lower of the wires 16 is preferably left intact to support the base of the hogshead 1G.

With the upper bracing strap 14 and bracing Wires 16 removed, the end 23 of the main panel 20 is peeled away from its glued relationship with the outer surface of the end closure flap 21. Because of the peculiar characteristics of the adhesive 24, that is its relatively low tensile strength, the end 23 of the main panel 20 readily peels away without undue effort. On the contrary, it would be virtually impossible for an inspector to pull the opposite ends of the main panel apart along the plane of the adhesive joint. This is true, of course, because of the high shear strength of the adhesive.

At this point, the hogshead 10 acquires a slightly frusto-conical shape, as seen in FIGURE 4. In this relationship, the hogshead 10 is readily lifted olf the compressed plug of tobacco and the plug might be broken open at a number of places to facilitate inspection of the tobacco.

After such an inspection, of course, the hogshead must be re-assembled in order that the shipment of tobacco can continue on its way. Referring now to FIGURE 5, it will be seen that the partially broken plug of tobacco has been placed inside the hogshead 10 again and the split open hogshead has been reinverted such that its open top faces upwardly. At this point, a tool resembling a conventional cable stretcher and seen generally at 70 is inserted in the opposed upper pull-up holes 43 associated with the top of the hogshead 10. The end closure flap 21 of the main panel 20 is then drawn into underlying relationship again with the inner surface of the opposite edge 23 of the panel 20.

The tool 70,.which has beenl described broadly as resembling a well known cable stretcher, comprises nothing more than a rack 71 and gear arrangement which includes a set of hooks 73 formed on the free end of the rack 71 and another set of hooks 74 formed on the housing 75 enclosing the gear. As will readily be seen, these hooks 73 and 74 are adapted to seat in the oppositely disposed pull-up holes 43 associated with the top of the hogshead 10. Upon turning the gear through the medium of a conventional crank handle 77, for example, the rack 71 is drawn in and the oppositely disposed hooks 73 and 74 approach each other to draw the panel unit 11 into cylindrical shape once more and re-establish the original shape of the hogshead 10.

When the end closure flap 21 of the main panel 20 has been drawn into underlying relationship with the inner surface of the opposite end 23 of the main panel 20, the upper bracing strap 14 and the bracing wires 16 are again placed in encircling relationship around the hogshead. The opposite ends of both the bracing wires 16 and the upper bracing strap 14 are clinched together. The disc 60 forming the top closure 12 is then pried into place under the rim defined by the continuous cleat 45 formed of cleat members 37 in the manner described hereinbefore. The disc 60 might, in the alternative however, set in place before the tool 70 draws the opposite ends of the panel 20 together. In such case, the continuous cleat 45 overlies the disc when the end closure flap 21 is drawn into underlying relationship with the opposite edge 23 of the panel 20.

In an alternative inspection sequence, the straps 14 and 15 and the bracing wires 16 might be cut and removed with the hogshead lying on its side, as it would normally lie in a warehouse, for example. In such case, after the straps 14 and 15 and the bracing wires 16 are removed, the hogshead is set up on end and the edge 23 of the main panel 20 is peeled away from its glued relationship with the outer surface of the end closure flap 21. At this point, we have a generally fiat wall panel once more. The tobacco is then examined by an inspector and the panel unit 11 again bent around the plug of tobacco with the discs 50 and 6i) still in place. A pair of tools 70 are utilized to draw the opposite edges of the panel 11 together and move the end ap 21 into underlying relationship with the opposite edge 23 of the panel. The straps 14 and 15 and the bracing wires 16 are once more placed in encircling relationship with the hogshead and clinched in a conventional manner.

As seen in FIGURE 6, the final step before loading the hogshead 10 for shipment is then to nail the bracing straps 14 and 15 through corresponding reinforcing panel assemblies 30 and 31, the main panel 20 and corresponding cleat members (38 and 37) into the wooden rings secured to the outer surface of the generally circular discs 50 and 60 of the end closures 13 and 12. The hogshead 10, full of tobacco, has now been reconstituted into the condition it was in immediately after being packed with tobacco and closed for the rst time back in the tobacco country, for example.

It will readily be seen that a ibreboard hogshead has been provided which is sturdy in construction and yet is simple and inexpensive to construct. In this light, the hogshead 10 is assembled from a prefabricated panel unit which can be shipped and stored in flat form and easily assembled in an expeditious manner.

The breboard panel unit construction is relatively inexpensive compared to its wood counterparts, for example. From it, the hogshead can be easily assembled by one man, making the cost features even more attractive.

The hogshead embodying the features of this invention adapts itself readily to opening for inspection prior to shipment by the buyer of the tobacco. After such inspection, it can be re-assembled with consumate ease Without any residual elTects of the break-in which might put the tobacco in jeopardy during the succeeding shipment, for example. Y

While an embodiment described herein is at present considered to be preferred, it is understood that various modifications and improvements may be made therein, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modications and improvements as well within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is desired to be claimed and secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A hogshead especially adapted for prizing and shipping tobacco, opening for inspection of the tobacco, and expeditiously closing the hogshead after inspection, comprising; a generally rectangular breboard panel bent into cylindrical shape so that its oppositely disposed transversely extending ends extend into adjacent relationship to dene an open top and bottom in said hogshead, a pair of fibreboard reinforcing panels bonded to the outer surface of said generally rectangular panel and encircling said open top and said open bottom thereof, one of said oppositely disposed ends having an end ap thereon adapted to lap the other of said oppositely disposed ends of said generally rectangular panel, pressure sensitive contact adhesive means between said end flap and the other of said ends, said adhesive having a relatively high shear strength whereby said end tlap and said other end will not readily separate generally in the plane of their lap and said hogshead tends to remain closed under internal pressure, and adhesive means having a relatively low tensile strength whereby said other end and said end ilap can readily be peeled apart and said hogshead opened for inspection or the like, pullup means on said oppositely disposed ends for facilitating said expeditious closure after inspection or the like, and a circular lid member secured in each of said open top and said open bottom to form end closures for said hogshead.

2. The hogshead of claim 1 further characterized by and including a series of cleat members secured to said generally rectangular panel inside said hogshead arranged around said open top and said open bottom thereof, said cleat members overlying corresponding lid members when said lid members are in place in said hogshead, and an annular ring on the outer surface of each of said lid members, each of said rings adapted to extend into close relationship with a corresponding rim and be secured thereto.

3. The hogshead of claim 2 further characterized by and including a metal bracing strap encircling each of said reinforcing panel means, and means securing said metal bracing straps through corresponding panels and a corresponding rim to a corresponding annular ring.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 21,220 Miskella Sept. 26, 1939 1,992,152 Yeates Feb. 19, 1935 2,140,996 Heifetz Dec. 20, 1938 2,280,761 McConnell Apr. 21, 1942 2,375,122 McConnell May 1, 1945 2,989,219 Overton June 20, 1961 3,008,623 Overton Nov, 14, 1961 

1. A HOGSHEAD ESPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PRIZING AND SHIPPING TOBACCO, OPENING FOR INSPECTION OF THE TOBACCO, AND EXPEDITIOUSLY CLOSING THE HOGSHEAD AFTER INSPECTION, COMPRISING; A GENERALLY RECTANGULAR FIBREBOARD PANEL BENT INTO CYLINDRICAL SHAPE SO THAT ITS OPPOSITELY DISPOSED TRANSVERSELY EXTENDING ENDS EXTEND INTO ADJACENT RELATIONSHIP TO DEFINE AN OPEN TOP AND BOTTOM IN SAID HOGSHEAD, A PAIR OF FIBREBOARD REINFORCING PANELS BONDED TO THE OUTER SURFACE OF SAID GENERALLY RECTANGULAR PANEL AND ENCIRCLING SAID OPEN TOP AND SAID OPEN BOTTOM THEREOF, ONE OF SAID OPPOSITELY DISPOSED ENDS HAVING AN END FLAP THEREON ADAPTED TO LAP THE OTHER OF SAID OPPOSITELY DISPOSED ENDS OF SAID GENERALLY RECTANGULAR PANEL, PRESSURE SENSITIVE CONTACT ADHESIVE MEANS BETWEEN SAID END FLAP AND THE OTHER OF SAID ENDS, SAID ADHESIVE HAVING A RELATIVELY HIGH SHEAR STRENGTH WHEREBY SAID END FLAP AND SAID OTHER END WILL NOT READILY SEPARATE GENERALLY IN THE PLANE OF THEIR LAP AND SAID HOGSHEAD TENDS TO REMAIN CLOSED UNDER INTERNAL PRESSURE, AND ADHESIVE MEANS HAVING A RELATIVELY LOW TENSILE STRENGTH WHEREBY SAID OTHER END AND SAID END FLAP CAN READILY BE PEELED APART AND SAID HOGSHEAD OPENED FOR INSPECTION OR THE LIKE, PULLUP MEANS ON SAID OPPOSITELY DISPOSED ENDS FOR FACILITATING SAID EXPEDITIONS CLOSURE AFTER INSPECTION OR THE LIKE, AND A CIRCULAR LID MEMBER SECURED IN EACH OF SAID OPEN TOP AND SAID OPEN BOTTOM TO FORM END CLOSURES FOR SAID HOGSHEAD. 